Fun And Games

A short dark story, set in Pattaya

ARE YOU SERIOUS?’ Paul asked.

‘I never joke, you know that.’

‘You are always joking, what are you talking about?’

‘Look, my sister is making a fortune with her YouTube Channel. Why can’t we start one?’ Micky said.

‘I listened to you before, and where did that get us?’

‘The idea was okay, it was just that local girls, erm, didn’t support us.’

‘And now?’

‘I suggested we pool all our money and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. And we are here, Pattaya. It was a good plan, wasn’t it?’

‘Sure, we’ll have a great time, and go home broke. I agreed to that, but what haven’t you told me?’ Paul said.

Paul and Micky had booked a whole month’s holiday in Thailand online—one night in Bangkok, and twenty-nine nights in Pattaya. The flight on Romania’s cheapest airline was full and cramped, the food was dire, and the toilets were blocked. But the boys didn’t care; they were away from factory jobs and painfully boring parents.

‘What a place Bangkok is!’ said Paul.

‘Yeah, pity we didn’t ask a cabbie where to go earlier. Instead, we followed your nose.’

‘So what? We walked around a bit and sampled local food. Bloody hot too. The food and the weather laughed Micky.

A coach picked them up at the hotel. After the reception called them repeatedly, hungover and breath that smelled like dead, mouldy rats, they staggered to find seats.

‘Good job we didn’t unpack, or we’d have missed the bus,’ said Paul.

‘Always look on the bright side. Can you chew a toothpaste tube or something?’

‘You were the smart one, you said, “We’ll have what she’s having”. Christ almighty, it took the skin off my mouth.’

Most of the scenery was wasted on the snoring pair. They crashed into their beds as soon as they dumped their bags in the Pattaya room and napped.

Coffee and “Anytime English Breakfast” arrived. ‘You want to know my brilliant idea?’

‘I’ve waited this long. Come on, or I’m going for a swim.’

‘The English girls didn’t want to act as semi-clad billboards advertising local pubs and restaurants. But, I bet these girls would be happy to do it, and for next to nothing.’

‘Are you mad?’

‘No, I’ve already agreed with several pub landlords to pay a fee for the bargirls to have pub names written on their bodies. The punters will love it.’

‘Are we going to the sea or the hotel’s pool?’

‘I’d rather buy some gum, and then walk along the front and come up with a plan. We can swim later before we go for a beer. How about it?’

The two strolled along the footpath, one excited, the other bored.

‘Here’s a 7/Eleven, do you need anything?’

‘We walked all the way here, just for breath-freshening gum?’

‘Come on.’

‘Wow, did you see that girl? Sitting on the steps, she is beautiful.’

‘Er, no. I was thinking.’

‘I know what I was thinking,’ Paul sniggered.

‘Hello, you two, why are you staring at me?’

‘Er, um, sorry,’ said Micky.

‘Don’t worry, I’m joking. Also, I’m used to men eyeing me up.’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’ Earning himself a gentle slap from Micky.

‘Your English is excellent, even the plane or hotel staff don’t speak as clearly.’

‘We do have schools here in Thailand, you know?’

‘Er, yes, I didn’t mean to…’

‘Wait a minute or two if you want to meet my friend.’

‘Sure, we’re in no rush,’ said Micky.

‘Here she comes. Quite a looker, don’t you think?’

‘She’s gorgeous…’ Paul was at a loss for words.

‘I’m Si Daeng, and she’s Si Muang.’

‘Great to meet you both,’ Micky held out his hand. The girls ignored it and “wai’d” him.

Big smiles all around as the chatty girls explained the “wai” and Thai greetings.

‘Can we buy you a drink or something to eat?’ asked Micky.

‘That would be lovely. Are you staying in a hotel?’

‘Yes, is that a problem?’

‘Hotels won’t allow us “working girls” in. But, if you grab a bottle of wine, you can come to our place,’ said Si Daeng.

Micky shoved Paul back towards the convenience store.

After a minute's walk, they arrived at a three-storey building and climbed to the top floor. Instead of entering the rooms, they were led up to the roof and sat around a steel table.

‘I’ll fetch some glasses and snacks,’ said Si Muang.

‘So, what is it you two do for work?’ asked Si Daeng.

‘We work in a …’ Paul got slapped, and Micky carried on.

‘We used to work in London, now we travel and film blogs.’

‘Wow, that’s great,’ both girls nodded.

A second bottle of red appeared and was soon shared.

‘Don’t you want to know what we do?’ asked Si Muang.

‘First, let me offer you two starring roles in our blog,’ said Micky.

‘Maybe you would like to see inside our studio?’ asked Si Daeng.

‘A studio, you mean your home?’

‘No, our film studio. Okay, we live there too,’ the girls laughed.

‘Wow, yeah. We can work together,’ said Micky.

‘Where are your cameras and sound equipment? At the hotel?’

‘Er, no, we use our mobiles,’ Paul waved his Samsung.

‘Ours is a bit more professional. That is how we earn our living.’

The girls opened the roof hatch and led the men to their living quarters.

‘Da, da. Kitchen, two beds, one bathroom. And our place of work,’ Si Daeng swept her arms in all directions.

‘It’s a bit, er, green,’ said Paul.

‘You’re not all that experienced in filming, then? The green screen allows us to project film on it, thereby looking like we are somewhere exciting.’

Si Muang flicked a switch. ‘There you are, Bangkok at night.’ The video flickered in the background.

‘Wow, that’s great,’ said Paul.

‘Go on film yourself in the city’s red light district, Patpong.’

Paul played with his mobile and held it at arm’s length.

‘Go on, we need a commentary,’ said Si Daeng.

‘Let me do it,’ said Micky.

‘Now you’ve had a play, how do we fit in?’ asked Si Daeng.

‘Simple, all you have to do is parade yourselves with the names of our customers’ pubs or restaurants written on your bodies. Easy,’ said Micky.

‘You mean naked with lipstick scrawled over our skin?’

‘Something like that,’ said Paul.

‘And you’d like to use us as actresses, our equipment and our studio?’

‘That would be great.’

‘And how much would you pay us?’

‘It would be fair. Don’t worry,’ said Micky.

‘I’ve got a better idea. You two can appear for us. Simply, lay on the props we use sometimes.’ She uncovered two medical beds. ‘Get on here, while we work out a payment.’

The boys took their places, Si Muang clambered under the beds and clicked shut a pair of manacles, locking the boys together. She then flashed a pair of handcuffs and grinned. Micky and Paul laughed with the girls.

‘Now let me explain how we earn money, real money. We undress, wear masks and dance about.’

‘Yes, similar to my idea,’ said Micky.

‘My name is Si Daeng, which means the colour red. Her name is Si Muang, which means the colour purple. Those are stage names, as if you couldn’t guess. Blood red when the lights are on, and purple blood when the lights are dimmed, then the blood spillage appears darker.’

White cloth was stretched across the boys' mouths and knotted behind their heads, then the girls ducked into rubber horror masks. Then peaked caps were placed on Micky and Paul’s heads and tipped down to their noses. The girls undressed.

Then the torture began. The Dark Web loved live shows.

The END

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